# Shelfy vs Actually Read

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Actually Read at 83% against Shelfy's 29%. Actually Read also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 days). Shelfy's advantage is ratings volume (1.4K vs 60) and iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shelfy sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Actually Read sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Actually Read holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shelfy has 1.4K ratings behind it against 60, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Shelfy's written reviews are positive against 83% of Actually Read's.

Shelfy ships an update every 6 days, Actually Read every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shelfy | Actually Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfy-book-tracker-and-tbr/id6755626127/reviews) | **[4.9 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/actually-read-focus-reader/id6796197302/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.4K** | 60 |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#42** | #113 |
| Size | 194 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 26.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Murakhovskyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822060947) | [Prism32 LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1591711559) |

## What reviewers say

### Shelfy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelfy-book-tracker-and-tbr/id6755626127)

**Currently charting:** #42 Top Grossing · Book, #55 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Organize your personal library with a beautiful 3D shelf, track reading progress with a focused timer and ambient soundscapes, and capture memorable quotes. Discover new books with personalized recommendations and track your reading habits with insightful statistics.

**Highlights:** Customizable 3D virtual bookshelf, Focused reading timer with soundscapes, Quote and bookmark capture, Personalized book recommendations, Reading statistics and achievements, Import from Goodreads/StoryGraph, Book discussion and information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription with 30% off | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $38.99 | per year |
| Yearly subscription | $38.99 | per year |
| 10 Spines | $2.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime access to Shelfy | $99.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime access to Shelfy | $149.99 | one-time |


### Actually Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/actually-read-focus-reader/id6796197302)

**Currently charting:** #113 Top Free · Book (US App Store)

Enhance your reading experience by tracking books, blocking distractions, and engaging with content using AI. This app helps you focus on your current read, whether it's an EPUB, PDF, or physical book, and offers AI-powered summaries and context.

**Highlights:** Book tracking and progress logging, Deep Focus app and website blocking, EPUB and PDF import, AI-powered book engagement and summaries, Customizable reading space, On-device AI processing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Actually Read Plus | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Actually Read Plus | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shelfy free?

Shelfy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Actually Read free?

Actually Read is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Shelfy or Actually Read?

Actually Read is rated higher. Shelfy averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Actually Read averages 4.9 from 60 ratings.

### Do Shelfy or Actually Read have ads?

Neither Shelfy nor Actually Read shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shelfy or Actually Read?

Shelfy ships an update every 6 days, and Actually Read every 2 days. Most recently, Shelfy was updated on November 5, 2026 and Actually Read on November 6, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Shelfy or Actually Read?

Shelfy currently peaks at #42 in the App Store charts, and Actually Read at #113. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*